Regensburg 2022 – scientific programme

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HL: Fachverband Halbleiterphysik

HL 14: Focus Session: Quantum Properties at Functional Oxide Interfaces (joint session HL/DS)

HL 14.2: Invited Talk

Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 10:00–10:30, H34

Ferroelectric two-dimensional electron gases for oxide spin-orbitronics — •Julien Bréhin — Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales

Just as the apparent incompatibility between ferroelectricity and magnetism prompted the renaissance of multiferroics, the research on ferroelectric metals conjectured in the 1960s by Anderson and Blount was recently revitalized. Yet, their experimental demonstration remains very challenging due to the contra-indication between the presence of free charge carriers and switchable electric dipoles. In this talk we will report on two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) formed on Ca-substituted SrTiO3 (STO). Signatures of the ferroelectric phase transition near 30 K are visible in the temperature dependence of the sheet resistance RS and in a strong, reproducible hysteresis of RS with gate voltage. In addition, spectroscopic measurements of the 2DEG region indicate the presence of switchable ionic displacements. Beyond their fundamental interest in materials physics, ferroelectric 2DEGs offer opportunities in spin-orbitronics: we will show how their spin-charge conversion properties, caused by the inverse Rashba-Edelstein effect, can be electrically tuned in amplitude and sign in a non-volatile way. These results open the way to a whole new class of ultralow-power spin-orbitronic devices operating without the need for magnetization switching. Finally, we will describe how one can introduce magnetism into such systems to achieve multiferroic 2DEGs displaying magnetoelectric coupling.